Duncan Lamont’s Mr Benn for Clarinet and Piano sontains 10 tunes from the ever-popular and iconic Mr Benn TV series, arranged for clarinet and piano and is currently set on the ABRSM grade 3 and grade 4 clarinet syllabus.

A charming collection of  music composed by Duncan Lamont, the music originally featured in the beloved 1970s BBC children’s television series Mr Benn. Lamont, a prolific jazz musician and arranger, wrote the original soundtrack under the pseudonym Don Warren, and later adapted the music for clarinet and piano, capturing the whimsical spirit of the show.

Each piece evokes the magical adventures of Mr Benn, who steps into a costume shop and emerges into fantastical worlds. The arrangements are light-hearted yet musically rich, blending jazz-inflected harmonies with playful melodies. Titles like “The Clown,” “The Spaceman,” and “Festive Road” reflect the imaginative episodes, and the clarinet’s expressive range brings these characters to life with warmth and nostalgia.

Suitable for intermediate players (around Grade 3+), the music is accessible yet rewarding, offering opportunities for dynamic phrasing and characterful interpretation. It’s a delightful repertoire choice for recitals or informal performances, especially for those who grew up with the series. Whether you’re revisiting childhood memories or discovering Mr Benn for the first time, Lamont’s music invites you to step through the shop door and into a world of musical storytelling.

Currently set on the ABRSM grade 3 and Grade 4 Clarinet syllabus.

Music Teacher Magazine Review:

This is the perfect nostalgia trip for clarinetists of a certain generation! I admit that sudden seeing a book of tunes (for series was a bit of a surprise. although looking on Amazon’s website, the DVD is ranked No 1 in sales for children, so there must still be an audience enioving its charms. The ten tunes in this volume are wonderful short pieces of light music, most of which are very programmatic and would capture the imagination of younger learners, even if they were unfamiliar with the cartoon. The simplest is an easy Grade 1 standard, but most (due to their chromatic nature) would be good for a ver confident Grade 4 student, with some pushing towards Grade 5. While there are many good jazz-style delight to see a book of light music that is well written and carefully presented – including a few pictures in both the piano and clarinet parts. Now, I’m off to get out my bass clarinet to play that theme tune.

Andrew Mason – Music Teacher Magazine